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Safety Products

Please be sure to read the product label of any insecticide you choose to use to get information on the personal protective safety gear you will need. In most situations, it is recommended that you wear long pants, a long sleeved shirt, closed toe shoes with socks, chemical resistant gloves, and goggles. In areas where ventilation is poor, a manufacturer may recommend you wear a mask or a respirator. We have put together two different safety kits that will make selecting the correct safety gear easier for you.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter Ants Identification Guide

Learn What Carpenter Ants Look Like

By DoMyOwn staff
Overview
carpenter ant size

While most folks understand what an ant looks like they may have trouble distinguishing a carpenter ant from a drywood termite. This can be difficult to do because termites and ants do look very much alike, especially during the spring and fall when the winged cast members are starting to fly around to find grounds for a new nest.

carpenter ant termite differences

Carpenter Ants:

  • Ants have noticeable waists
  • Ants have clubbed or bent antennae
  • Ants have longer legs
  • When wings are present, the front wings will be longer than the back wings on ants
  • Carpenter ants make small holes in wood to kick out debris that contains coarse sawdust along with insect body parts

vs

Dry Wood Termites:

  • Drywood Termites have a thick waist
  • Drywood Termites have straight antennae
  • Drywood Termites have shorter legs
  • When wings are present, both pairs of wings will be the same length on a drywood termite
  • Drywood termites tend to make small holes to kick out debris that looks like fine sawdust but does not contain insect parts
If neither of these descriptions fit the ants that you are seeing in or around your structure you should visit our General Ant Identification Guide to help identify and treat the infestation you have.
Size
How big are Carpenter ants? Carpenter ants are 1/4" - 1/2" long
Shape
carpenter ant anatomy
  • Carpenter ants have noticeable waists
  • Carpenter ants have clubbed or bent antennae
  • Carpenter ants have 6 legs
  • Carpenter ants do not have stingers
Color
Carpenter ants vary in color from black to dark red
Range
There are several species of carpenter ants and they can be found throughout the US.
Nest/Damage
carpenter ant wood nest
Carpenter ants can be found in dead or damaged trees, stumps and wood piles outside as well as in mulch. Inside, carpenter ants are usually found where wood has retained excess moisture from a leaky pipe or other leak in a wall void. Carpenter ants leave behind small holes in wood and kick out debris that will include coarse sawdust and insect body parts.

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